Work

Circular-beam approximation for quantum channels in a turbulent atmosphere

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The evolution of quantum states of light in free-space channels is strongly influenced by atmospheric turbulence, posing a significant challenge for quantum communication. The transmittance in such channels randomly fluctuates. This effect is commonly described by the probability distribution of transmittance (PDT). The elliptic-beam approximation provides an analytical model for the PDT, showing good agreement with experimental and simulation data within a specific range of channel parameters. In this work we introduce the circular-beam approximation—a simplified alternative that offers satisfactory accuracy while significantly reducing computational complexity. Our method naturally leads to a technique for determining the model parameters from the first two moments of the transmittance. This approach eliminates the model misspecification bias inherent in the elliptic-beam approximation and significantly extends the applicability range of the PDT model, providing a practical tool for characterizing atmospheric channels in quantum applications.

Source: Physical Review A

DOI: 10.1103/pv7j-4zpf

Authors: I. Pechonkin, M. Klen, A. A. Semenov

Institutions: Bogolyubov Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyiv School of Economics, Kyiv Academic University

Language: English

Topic: Quantum Information and Cryptography

Subfield: Artificial Intelligence

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,675

Funders: Simons Foundation, National Research Foundation of Ukraine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine